Astros’ 2013 lineup: Can you write in Altuve’s name more than once?

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“Boy, when you list them out like that I realize that we lost no one significant and gained no one significant.” –Guillermo_Casas, after reading a recap of the Astros’ off-season moves.

Last year, Brad Mills and Tony DeFrancesco used 144 different lineups. Think about that: In 162 games, Houston trotted out 144 different batting orders. New manager Bo Porter could challenge that number this year.

After a position-by-position look at the 2013 Astros and a review of the winter acquisitions, it’s difficult to look at the prospects for the season and see positive. Still, the fact that there are more prospects than seasoned veterans in Kissimmee is one reason for anticipation and optimism. Watching Porter and GM Jeff Luhnow mold a 25-man roster out of the more than 60 players in camp will be fun. At least for fans.

Even more amusing might be seeing his first lineup card. It probably won’t end up in Cooperstown and few names on it may be commonly remembered in 3-4 years. Still, the opening day lineup will stand up beside names like Biggio, Bagwell, Caminiti, Bourn, Cedeno and Roy Oswalt.

As the predictions for an Astros’ season that could include as many as 112 losses begin to roll in (yes, one prognosticastor says it will be 112), so to are other projections…as in the lineup. So, now that you know all the candidates, players and possible combinations, how will that lineup shake out when the Rangers come to town in a couple of month? CBS Sports makes it pretty simple and stays conservative without any risky out-on-a-limb guesses.

Unless Paredes or Barnes crack the lineup, Altuve is virtually the only option for leadoff. After that the fun begins for Porter. My projection isn’t a major departure from CBS, which makes you wonder why the Astros have over 60 players in camp if we already know the basic roster and lineup. Nonetheless, here’s my projection, using the current roster and NRIs as the basis.

2B Altuve.

SS Greene.

1B Wallace.

LF Carter.

CF Maxwell.

RF Martinez.

DH Pena.

C Castro.

3B Dominguez.

Yes Norris gets the opening day nod followed by Harrell. After that, it’s anyone’s guess, though Lyles has a job to lose. Alex White and Erik Bedard round out my rotation, at least on this date in history.

Once again though, the lineup on Day 1 will probably be regurgitated in scores of different ways as early as Day 2. Whether Porter becomes more settled than Mills and DeFrancesco remains to be seen.